ELASTIC CONSTANTS IN

ISOTROPIC MATERIALS
1. Elasticity Modulus (E)
2. Poissons Ratio (n)
3. Shear Modulus (G)
4. Bulk Modulus (K)

1. Modulus of Elasticity, E
(Youngs Modulus)
s = E e
s
Linear-
elastic
E
e
F
F
simple
tension
test
Units:
E: [GPa]
Slope of stress strain plot (which is
proportional to the elastic modulus)
depends on bond strength of metal
Adapted from Fig. 6.7,
Callister 7e.
E=
2. Poisson's ratio, n
Units:
n: dimensionless
e
T

e
L
n
F
F
simple
tension
test
n is the ratio of
transverse contraction strain
to longitudinal extension
strain in the direction of
stretching force.
Either transverse strain or
longitudional strain is
negative, is positive
e
T
n = -
e
L
e
T
: Transverse Strain
e
L
: Longitudional Strain
Virtually all common materials undergo a
transverse contraction when stretched in one
direction and a transverse expansion when
compressed.
In an isotropic material the allowable (theoretical)
range of Poisson's ratio is from -1.0 to +0.5,
based on the theory of elasticity.
metals: n ~ 0.33
ceramics: n ~ 0.25
polymers: n ~ 0.40
t
G
g
t = G g
3. Shear Modulus, G
simple
torsion
test
M
M
Units:
G: [GPa]
4. Bulk Modulus, K
s
avg
=
K
D
V
V
o s
avg
D V
K
V
o
P
P
P
Initial Volume = V
0
Volume Change = DV
Units:
K: [GPa]

avg
is the average of
three stresses applied
along three principal
directions.
s = E e
t = G g
s
avg
=
K
D
V
V
o
Stresses Strains
Elastic Constants
Normal
Shear
Volumetric
Example:
Uniaxial Loading of a Prismatic Specimen
After
Before
10 cm
10 cm
10 cm
10.4 cm
9.9 cm
9.9 cm
Determine
E and n
P=1000 kgf
10
cm
10
cm
l/2=0.2
cm
d/2=0.05
cm
1000 kgf
P=1000 kgf
P=1000kgf =
10*10
1000
= 10kgf/cm
2
E=


=
10
0.04
= 250 kgf/cm
2

long
=

l
l
0
= =0.04
0.4
10

lat
=

d
d
0
= = -0.01
-0.1
10

= -
-0.01
0.04
= 0.25
For an isotropic material the stress-strain
relations are as follows:
RELATION B/W K & E
Consider a cube with a unit volume

1
1
1

D
C
B
A
causes an elongation in the direction
CD and contraction in the directions AB
& BC.
The new dimensions of the cube is :
CD direction is 1+
BC direction is 1-
AB direction is 1-
V
0
= 1
Final volume V
f
of the cube is now:
(1+) (1-) (1-) = (1+) (1-2+
2

2
)
= 1 - 2 +
2

2
+ -2
2
+
2

3
= 1 + - 2 - 2
2
+
2

2
+
2

3

is small,
2
&
3
are smaller and can be neglected.
V
f
= 1+ - 2 V = V
f
- V
0
= (1-2)
If equal tensile stresses are applied to each
of the other two pairs of faces of the cube
than the total change in volume will be :
V = 3 (1-2)







+ +
K =
(++)/3

=
3 (1-2)
=
3 (1-2)
E
3 (1-2)
K =
E
3 (1-2)
SV = 3 (1-2) = (1-2)
(1-2) (1-2)
+
+
=
s
avg
DV/V
0
Moreover the relation
between G and E is :
G =
E
2 (1+)
The relation between
G, E and K is :
E
1
1
=
1
+
9K 3G
K =
E
3 (1-2)
The relation between
K and E is :
Therefore, out of the four elastic
constants only two of them are
independent.
For very soft materials such as pastes, gels,
putties, K is very large

Note that as K 0.5 & E 3G

If K is very large V/V
0
0 *No volume
change

For materials like metals, fibers & certain
plastics K must be considered.

Modulus of Elasticity :

High in covalent compounds such as diamond
Lower in metallic and ionic crystals
Lowest in molecular amorphous solids such
as plastics and rubber.
Elastic Constants of Some Materials
E(psi)x10
6
(GPa)

G(psi)x10
6
(GPa) (-)
Cast Iron
16 110 7.4 50 0.17
Steel
30 205 11.8 80 0.26
Aluminum
10 70 3.6 25 0.33
Concrete
1.5-5.5 10-40 0.62-2.30 4-15 0.2
Wood
Long 1.81 12
Tang 0.10 0.7
0.11 0.7
0.03 0.2
?